Refrigerator truck



Oct. 26, 1937. w. FOURNESS ET AL REFRIGERATOR TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fild Dec. 2, 1932 1 INVENTORSI flW/n'v Few/Weiss Edward 4m? BY ATTORNEY Oct. 26, 1937. w. FOURNESS El AL REFRIGERATOR TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 2, 1932 a 6 4133 a; Y a /2 7:6 5 E Q 5 4 7 T W 5 W? A Q lr 5 z 5 .f w 5 U x Oct. 26, 1937. w. FOURNESS El AL 2,096,712

REFRIGERATOR TRUCK Filed Dec. 2, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 30 59 4/ mzzzzv \T 1 /34 43 l I .7m '7 Q 5 47 .35

w. FOURNESS AL Oct. 26,1937,

REFRIGERATOR TRUCK 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 2, 19

INVENTORs 71 /7921? Eur/76 5s fon dr W ATTO R N EY Oct. 26, 1937. w. FOURNESS ET AL REFRIGERATOR TRUCK /W/ fl/ 4 a Z [NP W ,mm J w w /l.

w 7 a/. 9 /.3 W m w INVENTORS M Y r f f W Patented Oct. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REFRIGERATOR TRUCK Wilfred Fourness, Oakland, cam, andEdward G. Burghard, New York, N. Y.,-assignors, by mesne assignments, to Fourness Development Corporation, Ltd.

, Application December 2, 1932, Serial No. 645,370

' 5 Claims. (Cl. 62-117) this invention to improve in general, such truck.

refrigerating systems.

It is another object of the invention to provide a compact and imple motion transmission mechanism from tr engineitothe compressor of the refrigerating s stem; and especially one that can be controlled 1' connection and disconnection, independently f the transmission of power for propulsion of re truck.

In such tra. mission mechanisms the shifting of gears for var ing the ratio of transmission to the propelling wheels is accomplished when the load from the engine is entirely disconnected, as by the aid of a L itch pedal. It is another object of this invention to make it possible to shift these gears easily, by disconnecting the refrigerating system from the engine during the shifting period.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a compressor mechanism for the refrigerating system that can be driven optionally either by the automobile engine or another source of power, such as'an electric motor. This arrangement is especially useful where a loaded truck may be standing still for a long time in a place where a commercial source of electrical energy is available.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more easily apparent from a consideration of several embodimentsof the invention. For this purpose we have shown a few forms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. We shall now proceed to describe these forms in detail, which illustrate the general principles of our invention; but it is to be under-' 45 stood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of our invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, 5 of a truck in which the invention is incorporated,

the housing for the moving parts of the refrigerating system being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation showing the moving parts of the refrigerating system, the casing forming the compartment being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along plane 44 of Fig. 2, with one of the shafts shortened in order to reduce the size of the figure;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along the plane 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along plane 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail section taken through plane l-'| of Fig. 6;

. form;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail section, taken along plane ll-H of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is a' plan view of the portion of the chassis of a truck in which still another form of the invention is embodied;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic elevation of the structure shown in Fig, 12, some of the parts being in section; and

Fig. 141s a diagrammatic view taken along plane "-14 of Fig. 13.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, there is shown an automobile truck I (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) The engine for providing the propelling power is indicated diagrammatically at 2, Fig. 1. The main clutch, and the gear reducing and gear shift mechanism are shown as immediately in back of the engine 2, and enclosed in the housing 3' (Fig. 1). A propeller shaft 4, in this instance, is intended to drive the rear wheels, which are not shown.

Mounted upon the truck chassis is a body 5 (Figs. 2 and 8) forming a refrigerated compartment. The refrigeration is obtained by the aid of a mechanical refrigerating system carried by the truck body. More specifically, in the present instance, there is indicated a convoluted conduit 6 (Fig. 2) appropriately disposed in the body 5, through which refrigerant is circulated in a well understood manner for absorbing heat by vaporization of the fluid refrigerating medium.

The refrigerating mechanism for supplying refrigerant in liquid form to the conduit 6 may be housed in a compartment provided bycasing 1 (Figs. 1,2, 3 and 8). This casing can be appropriately formed of sheet metal, supported on ap- 1 and 8) the channel beam 8, and the beam 9 can support one side of the casing l; and the bottom of the body 5, can be used to support the top of the casing. The front wall ID of the casing 1 can be provided with a series of. vertical louvres (Figs. 1 and 2) for permitting air to circulate through the compartment. Furthermore, an intermediate partition l2 (Figs. 1 and 3) can be provided for forming separate compartments for the compressor I3 and a power transmission gear mechanism M, respectively. This gear mechanism will be described hereinafter.

The refrigerating system may be of any conventional type, in which a liquid refrigerant is permitted to expand and vaporize in a region of low pressure, such as conduit 6, where the process of evaporation and expansion absorbs heat. The expanded or vaporized refrigerant is then led to the compressor l3. As indicated in Fig. 3, the expanded or vaporized refrigerant passes downwardly into the compressor |3 through conduit |5. The compressor |3 passes the compressed gaseous refrigerant through pipe [6 into the condenser where the refrigerant is liquefied, and then passed through conduit l8 into the coil 6. This cycle is repeated as long as the system operates. The-passage of the refrigerant to and from the convoluted conduit 6 can be automatically regulated as is well understood. Such automatic regulating devices can be incorporated in any part of the closed circulating system.

In order to cool the compressed refrigerant in condenser II, a fan |9 can be used, driven from the same source of power as the compressor l3. This compressor has a shaft 20 which extends entirely through the compressor mechanism l3 and may be coupled at the right hand end as by coupling flange 2| to a source of power, such as an electric motor 22 for driving it. The electric motor 22, the compressor I3 and the condenser can all be appropriately supported on the base of the casing I.

Since the mode of operation of such refrigerating systems is well-known, further description is considered unnecessary. The electric motor 22 serves as an alternative form of power for operating the compressor |3 in case the engine 2 is at rest, as for instance when the truck is in a garage, or during an interruption in its transit.

In order to provide the cooling air stream past the condenser l1 and the fan IS, an upright conduit 23 (Figs. 2 and 3) connects to the interior of the casing I and is located between the cab 24 of the truck and the body 5 thereof. It has a horizontally extending mouth 25 directed toward the front of the automobile. In this way, motion of the automobile I will cause air to be captured in the mouth'25, and this air will be drawn in by the aid of the suction fan I9, throughthe condenser |'I, and past the compressor l3. The air is finally discharged through the louvres Under ordinary conditions, the compressor shaft 20 is adapted to be driven by power provided by the engine 2. The engine 2 operates a shaft 26 (Figs. 4 and 5). This shaft is journalled, as by the aid of a ball bearing structure 21, in the side of a gear housing 28, which may be filled with grease, if desired. This gear housing can be supported on the truck chassis in any appropriate manner; for example, partly by the aid of cross channel beam 29, over which extend a number of supporting feet 30 connected to the housing 28. --These feet can-be bolted to beam 29.

2,096,712 propriate parts of the chassis; for example (Figs.

The housing 28 can be further supported by the aid of boss 3|, fastened to the opposite side of. the housing, in the manner now to be described. The exterior surface of the boss 3| is cylindrical and can be encompassed by a support 33 fastened to the crossbeam 34 of the chassis, said boss 3| being capable of slight angular motion about its axis in support 33, to provide a self-aligning support. The propeller shaft 4 extends through this boss and is provided with a universal joint spider 36 arranged to be connected to a similar spider on the continuation of shaft 4. A similar spider 36 can be used for connecting shaft 26 to the forward portion of. the drive shaft.

The mode in which power is transmitted from shaft 26 to propeller shaft 4 will now be described. In general these two shafts can be coupled together by the aid of relatively movable clutch members. Thus shaft 26 has a toothed end portion 31 (Fig. 5). On this toothed portion is splined asliding clutch element 38. This clutch element is adapted-to be axially adjusted, as by the aid of a shift lever 39 engaging in a groove 49 of the clutch element 38. This shift lever 39 is rigidly fastened as by the aid of its hub 4|, to the shaft or bar 42 extending through appropriate bearing supports 43 and 44 in the sides of the housing 28. This shaft 42 is arranged to be slid manually in an axial direction by the operator, as by the aid of a knobbed lever 45 (Fig. 1). This lever is available for manipulation near thefoot-board of the cab 24.

The clutch member 38 has a toothed clutching portion 46 adapted to engage between corresponding teeth 41 in a collar 48. This collar is rigidly fastened to the shaft 4. It is apparent from an inspection of Figure 5 that, for the position shown, the two clutch elements 38 and 48 are out of engagement. shift shaft 42 to the right, a positive engagement is secured between teeth 46 and 41 and shaft 4 is thus coupled to shaft 26.

In order to support shaft 4 appropriately, a set of ball bearings 49 can be provided, the stationary race of which is fastened inside of boss 3|. The right hand 'end of shaft 26 can also be appropriately supported by the aid of ball bearings 59, the outer race of which is supported on an inner surface of collar 48.

The arrangement is such that shaft 26 can also optionally: transmit power to the compressor shaft 2|). For this purpose, a spiral gear 5| (Figs. 4 and 5) is mounted for free rotation on shaft 26, as by the aid of ball bearings 52. However, this spiral gear 5| can be positively clutched t the shaft 26 in a manner now to be described.

The right hand portion of the gear carries a series of radial teeth 52' forming one clutch element. The other clutch element is provided by a clutch collar 53 having corresponding radial teeth 54. This clutch collar is splined on portion 31 of shaft 28, and can be actuated by a shift lever 55 as by the aid of a hand lever 56 in the cab 24, in a manner entirely similar to the actuation of shift lever 39. The hand lever 56 is connected to the shaft 51 (Fig. 4) to which is fastened the shift lever 55.

It is obvious that connection of the power transmission mechanism to the propeller shaft 4 or to the compressor mechanism can be effected independently of each other. Both the propeller shaft and the compressor mechanism are normally actuated, during transit, in which case the clutch members 53 and 38 are placed in engagement with the respective clutching elements, al-

Upon movement of the.

though they are shown in disconnected position in Fig. 5. Similarly, either of these clutch members can be independently actuated as desired Spiral gear meshes with a spiral gear 59' mounted on shaft .51 (Figs. 4 and 5) This shaft extends at right angles to the driving shaft 25, and is appropriately supported in .ballbearings 59 and 59 in the sides of the-housing 29.

' shaft 64, by appropriate interchange A packing gland 90 can be provided where-the shaft 51' extends out of the. housing 24. This shaft in turn is connected as by a flexible coupling device 6| to an intermediate shaft 2. In order to make it possible to arrange shaft "so that it may extend either from the left hand side or from the right hand side of-housing 2|." the shaft 51' has a right hand extension, which is covered by a cap 63. This cap may be removed for permitting the accommodation of the flexible coupling on the right hand side of. the shaft if desired. In that case, cap 89 would be fastened to-the left hand side of the casing 28 to cover the protruding end of the shaft.

Shaft 82 is coupled to a shaft" by the aid of the flexible coupling device .65. This shaft (Figs. 4 and 6) extends through a-gear. housing .59,

(which may be packed withgrease) and is appropriately supported as by ballbearings Hand 99 in the sides of the housing 66 (Fig. 4). This housing ..is also provided with a closure or cap 69, fastened in this instance to the left hand side of the casing 66 as viewed in Fig. 4. The right hand side 'of the casing 56 is provided with a packing gland III. In this casealso, flexible coupling device 65 can be fastened to either end of of cap 69 and packing-gland 10. 1 Rigidly fastened to shaft 64 is a spiral gear II. This spiral gear in turn meshes with a spiral gear 12 fastened to a shaft 13. This shaft I3 is in alignment with shaft 20 of the compressor is and is coupled thereto in a manner to be de- The left hand end of shaft 19, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, extends through the end wall of casing 66 and carries an auxiliary drive pulley 15. Shaft 13 is coupled tocompressor shaft 29 through the intermediary of an intermediate shaft 16. This shaft is appropriately journalled in a standard l1 fastened to the right hand side of casing 56, and is coupled to the compressor shaft 29, as by coupling 14. An overrunning clutch mechanism is provided between shaft I3 and 76. This is provided, so that when electric motor 22 operates the compressor t9, the shaft 13 will not be driven. A similar overrunning clutch is mounted in the housing" (Fig. 3) at the left hand end of the shaft of motor 22. This-ensures that the motor will not be driven when shaft 13 is driven by the engine 2. Since both of these overrunning clutches are similar in construction, the overrunning clutch between shaft "and 19 only will be described. For this purpose reference may be had to Figs. 6 and 7.

Shaft 15 carries a flange 19 to which is bolted a cylindrical clutch collar 80, extending over the right hand end of shaft 13. This clutch collar provides an annular space 88 in which is accommodated a spider 82. This spider 92 is keyed to shaft 13, as by a key 83. Furthermore, if desired, the right hand end of shaft 13 can be supported in appropriate ball bearings 94 and 95 located respectively at opposite ends of the collar 90. A retainer cup or disc 96 can be fastened to the end of shaft 13 to hold the inner race of ball bearings against axial movement.

formed in the spider 82. as viewed in Fig. 7, therollers are ineffective to The spider 93 is provided with a series of flat surfaces 81, forming with the inner surface 89 of collar 99 a series of wedging spaces. In these spaces are respectively accommodated friction clutching rollers 89. These clutching rolls are adapted to be wedged-between the surfaces 81 and 88 and serve to couple the spider 82 to the cylindrical member so. This coupling action is accomplished when shaft 13 rotates in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. '7. Under such circumstances the rollers 99 will be urged by the motion of the flat surfaces 91 toward the converging parts of the spaces 9i. When shaft 13 is stationary, and shaft 15 is driven in a countera .clockwise direction, as by the aid of motor 22, the

rollers 89 wlllbe urged against the cavities 90 Under such conditions drive the. shaft 13.

I Exactly the same arrangement of rollers and surfaces is provided in the housing 18. when shaft 20 of the compressor is driven by shaft 19 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from theright hand end of Fig. 3, the clutch- .ing' elements in'housing 19 are ineffective; however. theyare effective when motor 22 drives the compressor. shaft 20.

It is apparent that in this form of the invention the compressor is for the refrigerating system can be optionally operated either by the electric motor 22' or from the engine .2, by appropriate ,-.manipulation of lever 56 and of switches for controlling motor 22. During standstillover extended periods, the motor 22 is merely switched-into circuit and it will operate compressor "without driving shafts 62 and 13 or the mechanism in housing 28. Furthermore, since all thejspiral gears 51, 55, 1i and 12 are shown as of the same size, the transmission ratio from shaft 26 tocompressor I3 is unity. This therefore requires, that compressor l3 has a range of high emciency over the range of operation of the engine shaft 26. This is readily accomplished by appropriate design of the compressor ii.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9,

10 and 11, the propeller 'shaft 4, housing 28 and levers 45 and 56 are arranged as before. However, in this case the compressor l3, motor 22 and condenser I! are located inside of the truck body 5.

The mode of transmitting power from shaft 28 to the compressor'shaft is simplified by the aid of a belt transmission. Thus the intermediate shaft 92- in this instance carries 'a pulley 9! (Fig; 10). A corresponding pulley 92 (Fig. 11) is coupled to pulley 9! as by the aid of the flexible belt 93. This pulley 92 is detachably coupled tothe shaft by an overrunning clutching mechanism illustrated in Fig. 11. In this case the compressor shaft 94 carries the clutch spider 95 located within the pulley 92. The overrunning clutch rollers 95 are arranged as before, to rotate shaft 94 in a clockwise direction when pulley 92 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the lower side of Fig. 9. A similar overrunning clutch mechanismis located in housing 18.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, the power for the compressor l3 is provided by the aid of a conventional power take-off 91 located on the side of the gear shift mechanism 99. This power take-off can be controlled as by a lever 99; to couple or uncouple it from the engine transmission. An intermediate shaft llill flexibly couples the power-take-ofi 91 to another shaft Ill This shaft l0l is approfastened to a longitudinal channel I03 of the chassis. This shaft, in turn, carries a splined clutch element I2I for cooperation with a corresponding clutch member I04. This clutch member I04 is fastened to the hub of a pulley I05. This pulley in turn is adapted to drive a pulley I06, as by the aid of the flexible belt I08. Pulley I05; although supported on shaft IIII, is free to rotate thereon except when clutch I2II04 is in driving position. Shaft Hi can be journalled in pulley I05, as by appropriate ball bearings I09.

Pulley I06 incorporates an overrunning clutch mechanism, such as illustrated in Fig. 11. This pulley is shown as supported on a cross shaft I01 extending into the vehicle body 5, and journalled in standard I22. Inside "of this body is located the compressor I3 and the electric motor 22, as illustrated in Fig. 14. Shaft I01 extends through gear housing IIO, which drives, by appropriate spiral gears, the shaft 20 of compressor I3. An overrunning clutch mechanism is also provided between the motor 22 and the shaft 20, in the housing III.

Normally, the clutch elements I2I and I04 are kept in engagement as by the aid of a compression spring H2 (Fig. 13), for transmitting power to the compressor. This compression spring acts between the boss II3, through which shaft IOI extends, and the clutch collar II4.

In order to make it possible to shift gears readily when operating the automobile, it is essential that the compressor mechanism I3 be disconnected from the transmission during the gear shifting period. In the present instance this is provided by the aid of a connection between the main clutch pedal H5 and the clutch member I2I. This main clutch pedal controls the transmission of power to the propeller shaft 4, and is depressed during the gear shifting operation. This depression also acts in the present instance to urge clutch member Hi to the right, so as to free the two members I2I and I 04. This is accomplished by the aid of a lever I I6, pivoted at an intermediate point on a standard I II. The lower end of the lever IIIi engages a groove in the collar H4. The upper end of lever H6 is connected as by a link II8, to an arm II! fastened to the main clutch shaft I20. It is apparent that depression of pedal II5 will pull the link II! to the left, causing the clutch collar II4 to be urged to the right.

We claim:

1. In a refrigerating truck having a propelling engine, a cargo carrying body, and a cab adjacent the body, a refrigerating system including priately journalled at each end in a frame I02,

a compressor, means forming a compartment ad'- jacent the body for housing said compressor, and means comprising an upwardly directed conduit extending from said compartment and between the body and the cab for circulating cooling air through said compartment.

2. In a refrigerating truck having a propelling engine, as well as a clutch mechanism between the engine and the propelling elements, a refrigerating system, a power transmission mechanism between the engine and the system, and means whereby said power transmission mechanism is disconnected in response to the disconnection of said clutch, comprising a clutch mechanism between the engine and the refrigerating system,

' and a connection between the two clutch mechanisms.

3. In a refrigerating truck having a propelling engine, as well as a clutch mechanism between the engine and the propelling elements, a refrigerating system, a power transmission mechanism between the engine and the system, and means whereby said power transmission mechanism is disconnected in response to the disconnection of said clutch, comprising a wheel, a connection between said wheel and the refrigerating system, a shaft upon which said wheel is rotatably mounted, said wheel being provided with a clutching surface, a clutch member splined on the shaft and movable toward and from the clutching surface, and a connection between said clutch member and the main clutch mechanism.

4. In a refrigerating truck, an engine for propelling a truck, a cargo carrying body, and a refrigerating system including a compressor, means for optionally putting the compressor into driving relation with ,said engine, a one way clutch interposed between said engine and said compressor, whereby said engine can drive said compressor in one direction only, an auxiliary motor for driving said compressor, and a second one way clutch between said motor and said com pressor, to establish a one way driving connection from the motor to the compressor.

5. In a refrigerating truck having a propelling engine as well as a transmission mechanism and a clutch mechanism between the engine and the propelling elements, a refrigerating system, and a power transmission mechanism between the engine and the system, including a power take-ofi from the transmission mechanism, and a mechanical connection between the power take-off and the clutch mechanism to render the power take-off inactive when the clutch is disconnected.

\ WILFRED FOURNESS.

EDWARD G. BURGHARD. 

